Back on the road after their brief respite at
home, the Sharks got off to a big start, feasting on the Carolina Hurricanes in
a 5-1 win in Raleigh on Sunday afternoon. Skating in an early matinee, the
Sharks got scoring from five different players, including three from defenseman
in a white washing.

As has become customary this season, the Sharks
used the opening period to feel out their opponent. The big difference is that
they didnt allow their opponent to jump out to a 1st period lead, which
unfortunately also become customary in the seasons opening month.

Perhaps with the new month comes new habits, and preventing the
opposition from scoring early would be a big one. Jamie McGinn almost gave the
Sharks the lead in that opening period, clanking a shot off the post with a
blast from the slot.

Evgeni Nabokov came up huge with a snow angel
save after deflecting a big shot out into the slot. The puck was pushed back
toward the Sharks net, but Nabokov got a glove on it, before some defensive
help arrived to clear it out of the crease.

Brandon Sutter, a 4th line
forward, got the Hurricanes on the board first by scooping up a loose puck just
inside his own blueline then racing up the left wing before snapping a shot
past Nabokov.

Defenseman Kent Huskins tied things up just 77 seconds
later with his first goal as a Shark. Huskins carried the puck into the
Carolina zone, putting a shot on Cam Ward from the slot. The puck trickled to
the end boards, where Huskins reclaimed the puck then threw a shot from the
goal line on the right side, beating Ward.

Brad Staubitz made it 2-1
72 seconds after Huskins goal with a nice second effort down low. Staubitz
circled toward the right post as Jody Shelley slid a pass over to him for the
quick snap-shot. With defenseman Andrew Alberts draped all over him, Staubitz
lifted the puck past Ward for his second goal of the season.

Douglas
Murray decided to get in on the act, by scoring his first goal in two seasons
with just under 5 minutes remaining in the period. The Defenseman saw an
opportunity to pinch and took a Joe Thornton feed right in front of the
Carolina net before putting a shot past Ward. Thornton was parked behind the
net and found the big defenseman for his 15th assist of the season.

Ryane Clowe earned the secondary assist on the play, giving him points in
consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Hurricanes went on the power play late in the
period after Manny Malhotra was whistled for running into Ward. San Jose would
get out of the period unscathed, but not before Carolina right winger Tuomo
Ruutu just missed on a one-time chance from the slot that narrowly missed the
Sharks net.

Chad Larose put a shot off the left post early in the 3rd
period as the Hurricanes put on an early rush in order to get back into the
game. Ray Whitney put a one time shot on another Carolina rush moments later,
but Nabokov stoned him, and in the process setup a huge counterattack for San
Jose.

Patrick Marleau scooped up the rebound along the right wing
boards and skated up the wing, while Marc-Edouard Vlasic raced up the weak
side. Marleau saw the defenseman headed toward the Carolina net, then sent a
pass that hit Vlasic on the tape for the redirect past Ward for the 4-1 lead.

A slashing penalty to Alberts put the Sharks on the power play midway
through the period, and Marelau would cash in with his 11th goal of the season.
Marleau took a cross-ice pass from Thornton near the right circle, then sent a
Howitzer shot that popped Wards water bottle off the net.

Game Notes:

Murray went 109 games between goals, last scoring
against the Philadelphia Flyers in February of 2008. Marleaus assist in
the 3rd period extended his point scoring streak to 8 games. Eric Staal
suffered an upper body injury in the middle period and did not return.

SHARE THIS STORY:

What did you think of
this article? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums

What did you
think of this game? Post your comments on the Feeder Forums